 The Fur Trade at Lachine and originalLachine Canal as in 1820s | |
 | |
| Location | Lachine inMontreal,Quebec,Canada. |
|---|---|
| Type | history museum |
| Website | Parks Canada |
| Official name | The Fur Trade at Lachine National Historic Site |
| Designated | 1970 |
The Fur Trade at Lachine National Historic Site is a historic building located in the borough ofLachine inMontreal,Quebec,Canada, at the western end of theLachine Canal. It is aNational Historic Site of Canada.[1]
Beginning in the 17th century,voyageurs would launch their canoes from this location to transport trade goods thousands of miles into the interior of North America lands. At that time theLachine Rapids prevented large ships from going any further west along theSaint Lawrence River.
A stone warehouse was erected in 1803 to store the furs gathered as a result offur trade. It is now aParks Canada museum dedicated to the history of this strategic location as a departure and arrival point for fur trading expeditions. The site is separate from Lachine Canal National Historic Site, with which it is inextricably connected.
Montreal was the start of nearly all westward canoe routes. SeeCanadian canoe routes (early). Here furs were transferred from canoe to ship and trade goods from ship to canoe. A natural transfer point was the west end ofMontreal Island since goods could be carted over a nine-mile road around theLachine Rapids. Canoes usually left in May and returned in August. TheNorthwest Company built a stone warehouse here in 1803. It was used until 1859 when it was sold to the Sisters of Sainte Anne who used it as an employee residence. TheLachine Canal was built around the rapids in 1825. SirGeorge Simpson (administrator) had a mansion across the canal from the warehouse which was torn down in 1880. Parks Canada acquired the warehouse in 1977 and in 1985 opened a museum.[2]
The Museum is affiliated with: theCanadian Museums Association,Canadian Heritage Information Network, andVirtual Museum of Canada.
New France (1534–1763) | |
|---|---|
| History | |
| Colonies |
|
| Towns and villages |
|
| Forts | |
| Governments |
|
| Laws | |
| Economy | |
| Society | |
| Missionary groups | |
| Wars | |
National Historic Sites of Canada by location | |
|---|---|
| Provinces | |
| Territories | |
| Other countries | |
45°25′53″N73°40′32″W / 45.4314°N 73.6756°W /45.4314; -73.6756
.svg)
